Prairie Rivers of Iowa’s new Watershed Coordinator David Stein surveying wild bees in a central Iowa restored prairie.

AMES – David Stein of Ames, Iowa has joined Prairie Rivers of Iowa Resource Conservation and Development as the watershed program coordinator replacing former coordinator Kayla Bergman. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Drake University and a Master of Science in Ecology from Iowa State University.

Stein’s passionate regarding conservation issues in Iowa and loves teaching others about the unique ecosystems found in the state. He previously worked as a researcher at both Iowa State and Tufts Universities primarily on prairie restoration and pollinator conservation in Iowa, Missouri and Central Maryland with five years of experience in the field. “I’m very excited to be using my knowledge as both a researcher and conservationist to improve Central Iowa’s natural resources,” relates Stein.

“We’re excited about David joining our staff and bringing his expertise to our watershed work. Prairie Rivers of Iowa continues to provide leadership in watershed planning, education for the public around soil health and water quality and supporting our cities and counties elected officials as we try to ensure healthy natural resources,” states Prairie Rivers of Iowa Executive Director Penny Brown Huber.

In his new role, Stein will lead the Prairie Rivers of Iowa watershed team on planning and implementation focused on conservation practices that support organizations and landowners in the South Skunk River watershed. He’ll work closely with government agencies, non-government organizations, farmers and community members in the watershed in a way that is inclusive of all stakeholders and their ideas. This includes a great deal of work commissioned to Prairie Rivers by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant helping them continue the their work towards improving water quality and pollinator habitat. “I’m looking forward to working with the community towards improving the quality of Iowa’s land and water,” echoes Stein.

Stein is originally from the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his dog Teddy, hiking in local parks, finding new recipes to cook, gardening and exploring Des Moines with friends.

Prairie Rivers of Iowa – Prairie Rivers of Iowa is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization committed to strengthening Iowa’s communities through the responsible stewardship of our natural resources. Prairie Rivers of Iowa’s programs help Iowans conserve our state’s natural and historic resources to enrich the lives of current and future generations. To learn more, please visit www.prrcd.org.